第31部分(第2/9 頁)

st　kept　looking。

〃e　here；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　deep　voice。

She　didn't　hesitate。　Within　seconds；　she　was　across　the　room　and　in　his

arms。　They　were　warm　and　intimate；　very　dear　in　a　way　that　said　friend

before　lover。

〃You　looked　beautiful　that　night　in　the　restaurant；〃　he　said　against　her

hair；　then　drew　back　enough　to　smooth　a　loose　strand　from　her　cheek。

〃Did　you　enjoy　yourself。？〃

She　looked　up；　leaving　her　hands　locked　behind　his　back。　〃I　didn't

realize　it　was　you　until　I　got　the　note。　Why　didn't　you　e　say　hello？〃

〃That's　off　limits；　isn't　it？　Socializing　in　the　real　world？〃

In　that　instant；　Anne　sensed　she　didn't　want　it　that　way；　not　anymore。

But　she　needed　to　get　used　to　the　thought；　so　she　blocked　out　words　by

dropping　her　head　to　his　chest。　Her　arms　told　him　that　she'd　missed　him。

The　speed　of　his　heartbeat　said　he'd　missed　her；　too。　Okay；　so　they

didn't　use　words。　That　was　fine　for　now。

Mitch　shifted　her　to　his　side　and；　with　an　arm　over　her　shoulder；　led

her　to　the　living　room。　He　drew　her　down　beside　him　on　the　sofa；　tucked

her　head　in　the　crook　of　his　arm；　and　stretched　out　his　long　legs。　〃Tell

me　about　Christmas。〃

She　spoke　tentatively。　〃It　wasn't　as　bad　as　I'd　expected。〃

〃No　downs？〃

〃A　few。　Jeff　and　I　always　went　from　house　to　house　on　Christmas　Day。　It

was　more　simple　this　year。　Dinner　with　his　parents。〃